Nature, Biodiversity, Ecosystems

Follow up and progress on the Freshwater Challenge:

• The focus has shifted from mobilizing more countries to join, to setting freshwater ecosystem protection and restoration targets and identifying what resources they may need for implementation – Concentrating on targets, showcasing what countries are announcing.
• Both the CBD COP16 (Monitoring Framework Plan of the GBF) and the UNFCCC COP29 (conclusion of the new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG) and GGA indicators framework have strong links to means of implementation. Moving from policy to action would be a relevant red thread. 
• Countries will be invited to announce their targets. And, partners and developed country members to announce intent to mobilise resources in support of the challenge.
• Corporate sector engagement may also be featured.

Nature-based Solutions for water security: 

• FAO are working on NbS/Ecosystem-based Solutions in the agricultural sector.
• Agroecology 
• Taking a landscape approach to nature-based solutions that includes forest-water as well as upstream-downstream interactions.
• ENACT publication that supports NbS decision-making across the Rio Conventions, will be launched at CBD COP 16. The paper will provide convention-specific policy recommendations scaled toward Governments which build on the COP28 joint statement on climate, nature, and people (as a landmark framework to link UNFCCC, CBD and UNCCD).

Global Goal on Adaptation:

• The Global Goal on Adaptation, contains a nature target where freshwater appears explicitly and it captures both the nature-based solutions side of the equation and the vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems. Between nature-based solutions  for water security and vulnerability of human communities, adaptation for freshwater ecosystems sometimes gets overlooked, so it would be a point for the Pavilion to highlight both nature-based solutions and solutions for adaptation of freshwater ecosystems themselves and how we can generate co-benefits.
• In particular, we would showcase policy and science connections between 30×30 for inland waters and ecosystem resilience, including the IUCN 30×30 for inland waters report being launched in Cali.
• Create linkages to other groups – highlight biodiversity in a cross-cutting way without overlapping with other groups. SIWI will ensure that the programme works in a synergistic way.

CBD and COP29 Biodiversity and Climate

• Communicate how climate and biodiversity are linked.
• Outcomes from the CBD and how it has an effect on COP29 (expected decision on climate and biodiversity).
• IUCN Report on 30×30 for inland waters.

Science and evidence-based solutions for wetlands:

• Provide tools, data and innovations for a better understanding of how freshwater ecosystems function and how to organize land use management to protect ecosystems e.g. wetlands.
• Use data to motivate which policies would be better than others, et cetera.